| Despite the heavy concentration of scholarship on the early nineteenth-century decorative arts of New York City, historians continue to strive for a sense of the diversity that defined this time period. A cabinetmaker, entrepreneur, wood merchant, mahogany inspector, and mill owner, Thomas Constantine exemplified the almost schizophrenic nature of craftsmen as they struggled to achieve economic security and personal satisfaction.;This thesis systematically analyzes Constantine's career, which in many facets can be considered atypical, through an investigation of surviving objects and documents. By actively pursuing both private patronage and public commissions, Constantine helped to illustrate the manner in which aesthetically pleasing objects defined the built environment of the young United States.;What makes this artisan notable is the quick abandonment of a trade in which he had achieved such notoriety at an early date. Constantine left the field at the age of thirty-four and continued to change jobs and location throughout the rest of his life. However, he stayed within the network that connected the producers, venders, and consumers of valuable hard woods and established a family dynasty around the retailing of high quality cabinetmaking materials. |
